Hartford resident Kevin Henry and financial backers plan to open a retail cannabis store in a building on the same 3-acre property as Hartford’s Parkville Market.
Henry applied May 19 for a special permit through the City Planning and Zoning Commission, seeking to open a cannabis shop on the property at 1396 Park St.
The 4,380-square-foot building is the smallest of three at 1390-1400 Park St., a property owned by prominent Parkville developer Carlos Mouta.
In 2020, Mouta opened the Parkville Market – an indoor bazaar of food and drinks vendors – in a larger building on the property following a $5 million conversion. He is currently renovating a separate, 34,475-square-foot building on the property to make room for a bar, distillery, additional food vendors and an events space.
Henry’s cannabis shop is proposed for a building on a corner of the property. According to Henry’s application, it has been vacant for two years, and had most recently hosted a daycare.
Mouta said Henry and his partners will be responsible for remodeling the building, and that they have secured a lease with options to extend for a total period of 25 to 30 years.
Henry states he is a social equity applicant who has entered into a social equity joint venture agreement and will not be subject to the state’s permitting lottery, increasing the likelihood of a successful license application.
“It is my belief that the proposed use will be complimentary to the existing entertainment options including the wine, beer and cocktail bars at Parkville Market as well as the surrounding neighborhood activities, such as Hog River Brewery, Real Art Ways and Parkville Sounds, to name a few,” Henry wrote.
Henry was not immediately available to speak Tuesday morning. His application states the business will employ 35 people, including 20 full-timers.
Henry proposes to open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Mouta said the store will be well regulated.
“I think it’s about time it’s legal,” Mouta said. “People should be responsible, like anything else. This is much more regulated than guns.”
